Hospice Registered Nurse

Heartland Hospice•Washington, MO

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse (RN)/RN Case Manager serves as a primary point of contact for hospice patients and their families, providing individualized skilled nursing care and support in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other institutional settings. The RN performs initial and ongoing assessments, delivers symptom management and nursing interventions aligned with each patient’s goals of care, and develops and updates individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identified risks. The role coordinates care with an interdisciplinary team, including physicians, nurse practitioners, LPNs, CNAs, social workers, and chaplains. The RN educates patients, caregivers, and families about disease processes, medications, nutrition, hospice services and philosophy, end-of-life care, symptom and pain management, and care techniques. The RN also provides emotional, physical, and spiritual support, communicates changes in patient condition to appropriate providers, and supports continuity of care and transitions between levels of care. The position requires timely, accurate clinical documentation and compliance with infection-control, regulatory, and organizational standards. The RN participates in team and quality-improvement activities and, as applicable, on-call and patient-support services. Work takes place in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings and in an automobile. Potential exposures include infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. The position is safety-sensitive and requires transportation for work.

Requirements

Registered Nurse education and current license to practice nursing in the state of requested employment.
At least one year of RN experience in acute care hospital, oncology, long-term care, hospice, or home health; school internships and clinical hours may be considered in individual cases.
Current CPR certification.
Current automobile insurance and a valid driver’s license.
Must have and maintain transportation for work.
Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families, hospice services, and the specialized needs of hospice patients and families.
Knowledge of the roles of disciplines providing hospice services and of community resources.
Excellent patient assessment skills and knowledge of general nursing practice.
Knowledge of documentation and program management, managed care principles, and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
Good oral and written communication skills; ability to communicate effectively with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
Ability to demonstrate empathy, tact, flexibility, sound judgment, critical thinking, maturity, cooperation, and composure when dealing with patients, families, coworkers, and the hospice team.
Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, copier, and cell phone or beeper.

Nice To Haves

Hospice or palliative care experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person or telephonic RN assessments and screenings.
Deliver skilled nursing interventions and manage symptoms in alignment with patients’ goals of care.
Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identification of patient needs and risks.
Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members, consulting with physicians and nurse practitioners as needed.
Educate patients, family members, and caregivers about disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, and dietary needs.
Provide practical caregiver training and emotional reassurance, and support patients and families through hospice and end-of-life topics.
Communicate changes in condition and signs or symptoms of decline to the appropriate provider.
Support continuity of care, including appropriate referrals to home health, palliative care, or hospice and transitions between levels of care.
Document screening and assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, care plans, and other clinical records accurately and promptly.
Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and involve the team when patient care plans warrant participation.
Participate in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, providing clinically competent and responsive service.
Follow infection-control, regulatory, compliance, and organizational policy standards.
Support quality-improvement and scheduling initiatives to promote consistent, compassionate, and efficient care.

Benefits

Competitive pay
401(k) with company match
Career advancement opportunities
National and local recognition programs
Teammate Assistance Fund
Medical, dental, and vision insurance for full-time associates
Mileage reimbursement or fleet vehicle program for full-time associates
Generous paid time off and seven paid holidays for full-time associates
Wellness programs, including telemedicine, diabetes management, and joint and spine concierge care, for full-time associates
Education support and tuition assistance, including ASN-to-BSN and BSN-to-MSN programs, for full-time associates
Free continuing education units for full-time associates
Company-paid life and long-term disability insurance for full-time associates
Voluntary benefits, including pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care coverage, for full-time associates